Potential Career Paths With an Education Degree

Most education majors start their careers working as teachers, but you have multiple options other than working in the same classroom for the next 30 years. If you have an education degree, here are some of the career paths you can consider:

Educator Leadership

Every school has educational leaders who serve as “head teachers” to coordinate classrooms. In elementary schools, head teachers make sure that teachers from all grades are up to speed on school events and have the resources they need. In high schools, there is typically a head teacher for every department (math, science, English, etc.) to help educators under their topic area in whatever way possible. These leadership roles are given to teachers who have both experience and education, so if you have head teacher aspirations, try to stay working for a single school for as long as possible and consider going back to college for a master’s degree.

Educational Administration

Your experience as a teacher can also help you qualify for administrative roles. All schools have administrative leadership, such as curriculum developers, principals (and sometimes vice-principals), and superintendents. In these positions, you won’t be directly working with students in many cases, but you’ll be working to enforce school policy, develop educational programs, communicate with parents, and otherwise ensure that students are getting the best education possible. Almost all educational administration roles require at least a master’s degree, and in some cases, you’ll need a doctorate to qualify.

Counseling

Become a school counselor or guidance counselor isn’t the same as being an educator, but you’ll still work with students to help them learn about their future options and to help them make the most of their current educational situation. Counseling requires you to have a state license, and while each state has their own rules and regulations for earning this license, you will need at least a master’s degree in the field.

Online Tutoring

One other career option that you may not have considered is online tutoring. Some online teachers actually earn full-time salaries, working with cyberschool students and other non-traditional students in a virtual classroom. This is also a part-time option for teachers who want to earn a little extra money after school, on weekends, or during summer vacation.

Capella University –
Capella University offers online degrees in Education including: MS in Educational Psych., Higher Education, and Online Learning. Students can choose from a wide variety of concentrations including: Curriculum and Instruction, K-12 Studies in Education, Early Childhood Education, Enrollment Management, Leadership for Higher Education, Postsecondary and Adult Education, and Professional Studies in Education.

Northcentral University –
Northcentral University offers an online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Students can choose from specializations including: Athletic Administration, Early Childhood Education, English Second Other Language, Leadership in Higher Education, Organizational Leadership, Adult Learning and Workforce Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Teaching, International Education, and E-Learning. The program includes faculty mentoring and no residency requirement.